Latest California Healthline Stories
Ventura County Cuts Funds for Kids’ Health Insurance Enrollment
County officials expect to enroll almost 60 fewer children per month in publicly funded health insurance programs after the board of supervisors cut a county outreach effort’s budget and staff by about half. County officials say state budget cuts are to blame. Ventura County Star.
Health Reform Plan Must Account for Rising Costs
Daniel Weintraub in his column warns that the compromise health care reform plan being negotiated by Gov. Schwarzenegger and Democratic legislators would face serious obstacles almost from the start because it doesn’t do enough to control health care costs. Sacramento Bee.
Despite Specialist Shortage, Rural Hospital Makes Gains
The relatively small Hanford Community Medical Center has successfully recruited 10 new physicians, more than half of whom are specialists. Community Medical Centers’ affiliation with UC-San Francisco’s medical education program has helped in attracting physicians. Fresno Bee.
Leading GOP Senator Seeks Long-Term Care Insurer Data
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley has asked for detailed information on the procedures that 11 long-term care insurers use to process policyholder claims, inquiries and denials and whether employees receive rewards for claims denials in response to troubling data collected by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. New York Times.
Study: Chronic Diseases Twice as Likely in U.S. as Europe
U.S. adults age 50 and older are twice as likely as older European adults to have a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease and arthritis, according to a new Health Affairs study. The U.S. should promote healthy diets and other measures to prevent chronic diseases to reduce health care costs, according to the study. Los Angeles Times, Washington Times.
U.S. House Panel Looks Into EHR Lapse at VA Facilities in California
A glitch in the Veterans Health Administration’s electronic health record system in August disrupted care at 17 facilities in Northern California. One physician IT leader described the case as “the most significant technological threat to patient safety” in VA’s history. Modern Healthcare.
Bill Would Reverse CMS Rules on Anemia Drug Coverage
The legislation, introduced in the House last week, would require CMS to reverse a decision to limit coverage of popular anemia drugs by cancer patients. The bill likely will fail but might encourage CMS officials to revise the decision, according to an analyst. CQ HealthBeat et al.
Hospital Group To Weigh In on Presidential Health Debate
The American Hospital Association supports proposals to expand health insurance to all U.S. residents and to prohibit health insurers from denying coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions. Meanwhile, former presidential candidate and Sen. John Kerry urged Democrats to expand health insurance to all residents. Akron Beacon Journal, AP/Boston Herald.
Senate OKs Defense Spending Bill With Health Care Funding
The defense authorization bill includes $950 million for military health care in fiscal year 2008. The legislation now heads into conference with the House version. President Bush has said he plans to veto the bill because of a provision that would protect gays under federal hate-crime laws. Washington Times et al.
Premiums for Medicare Part B Plans Set To Increase by 3.1% in 2008
The 3.1% increase is the smallest in standard monthly premiums for Medicare Part B since 2000, when the premium stayed the same. Acting CMS Administrator Kerry Weems attributed the increase in part to growth in certain areas of the fee-for-service program. New York Times et al.